2 International Guidelines…Variation in contextsPluralities in interpretationOutcome: diversities in implementationCan we build on commonalities?Why and how?To understand…To learn from each other…By sharing good practices and lessons learnt…

4 Purposes of the project…An opportunity to share experience and learn from each otherTransnational guidelines such as ESG and GGP of INQAAHE offered a framework within which such experiences could be shared.While the national systems, organisational contexts and operational environments are different for ACQUIN, AUQA and HETAC, it is possible to identify some common strands in the conduct of their own self-reviews and the external evaluations.

6 Governance - ESG2.2 Development of external QA processes…aims and objectives of QA should be predetermined2.4 Processes fit for purpose3.2 Official status: Formal recognition as agencies with responsibilities for external quality assurance3.3 Activities: Agencies should undertake external quality assurance activities on a regular basis.3.5 Mission statement: clear and explicit goals and objectives contained in a publicly available statement

9 4. Reporting public informationInforming and responding to the public; demonstrating public accountability by reporting openly on review decisions; and reporting on its own performance.3.7 External quality assurance criteria and processes used by the agencies: … These processes will normally be expected to include:…publication of a report, including any decisions, recommendations or other formal outcomes;

10 5. Role of HEIsRespecting the autonomy, identity and integrity of HEIs.Applying standards, which have been subject to consultation with stakeholders and contributing to both quality improvement and accountability.2.1 Use of internal QA procedures2.2 Development of external quality assurance processes: The aims ….be determined…by all those responsible (including higher education institutions) …..

11 6. Documenting RequirementsDocumenting clearly what the agency expects of the institution2.2 Development of external quality assurance processes: ….and should be published with a description of the procedures to be used.2.7 Periodic reviews: ….the review procedures to be used should be clearly defined and published in advance.

12 7. Requirements for self evaluationDocumenting clearly guidelines for the self evaluation process2.1 Use of internal quality assurance procedures2.2 Development of external quality assurance processes: The aims and objectives of quality assurance processes should be determined before the processes themselves are developed, …and should be published with a description of the procedures to be used.

13 8. Evaluation ProcessConstituting review committees in accordance with the guidelines of the agency, and including at least one external reviewer from another country or jurisdiction3.7 External QA criteria and processes used by the agencies …pre-defined and publicly available…include self-assessment, external assessment by experts, and site visits…publication of a report, and a follow-up procedure.

14 9. DecisionsEvincing independent, impartial, rigorous, thorough, fair and consistent decision-making, and making consistent decisions.2.3 Criteria for decisions: Any formal decisions made as a result of an external quality assurance activity should be based on explicit published criteria that are applied consistently.3.6 Independence: …that the conclusions and recommendations made in their reports cannot be influenced by third parties …..

15 10. AppealsProviding an appropriate method for appeals against its decisions3.7 …conclusions which have formal consequences should have an appeals procedure

16 Collaborating with other agencies Exchange of good practices 11. CollaborationCollaborating with other agenciesExchange of good practicesCapacity developmentTNEJoint projectsStaff exchanges

17 12. CBHEEstablishing policies relating to both imported and exported higher education that are the same as those for domestic providers and domestic provisionConsidering relevant guidelines issued by international agencies and other associations on CBHEConsulting appropriate local agencies in the exporting or importing countries, where possible

18 GGPs 11 & 12 and UNESCO-OECD GuidelinesCBHE in all modes in the scope of QAstrengthening the network initiativescollaboration between sending and receiving countriesinformation disseminationadherence to ‘Code of Good Practice’mutual recognition agreementscooperation with other stakeholdersinternational orientation of the QA processes

19 Commonalities… inspire good practiceprovide common denominators of good practiceaim to promote mutual trustaspire to improve transparencyapplicable to all QA agenciesirrespective of their structure, function and sizethe national systemall stages of development

20 Commonalities… recognise diversitiesrecognise the primacy of national systemscentral place to institutional autonomyQA is the responsibility of HEIsacknowledge that QA is a generic termdo not include detailed proceduresprovide only examples

21 Clarity in aims, processes, procedures To be determined in advance Emphases on…Clarity in aims, processes, proceduresTo be determined in advanceIn consultation with the sectorPublicly availableTransparency, consistencyObjectivity, independenceDocumenting and reporting

22 Criticisms… Expressed at extremely high levels of generalityDo not provide specific tools to take actionToo broad and ambitious (not realistic) to help practitioners convince the governmentsDo not adequately empower the policy makers to implement good practice in the sectorIn the long run might lead ‘trade language’ to creep into academic discussionsFirst steps to regulation?Towards a compliance culture? (eg link with EQAR)

23 CriticismsSome comments are from non-supporters of QA and they question the central role to QA agenciesLack of understanding of the spirit and consequent counter questionsNetworking and cooperation – who will bear the cost?Variation in definitionsSome terms are not understood (eg joint assessments)Some problems are not specific to QASome are philosophical questions…

24 Have those purposes been achieved? Big Questions?What is our understanding of the purposes of the international guidelines? (provide broad principles vs specific tools)Have those purposes been achieved?What are the gaps? (eg stakeholder involvement, mutual understanding)What is the next stage?

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